Member Article

Teesside company set for big things with its ‘all-in-one’ service

The future looks bright for height specialists Inspection & Maintenance Services Ltd (IMS), thanks to a bespoke, multi-discipline service that stops management wasting time and resources outsourcing work to multiple contractors.

Teessider, Anthony Kirwan, founded IMS after spotting a gap in the market for a company that provides rope access, NDT and inspection, drone and maintenance services as a complete package.

After a decade of working on and offshore as a rope access and Non-Destructive Testing (NDT) technician and PfCO certified drone pilot, Anthony decided to combine his skills to offer an all-in-one solution to clients.

“Rope access, NDT and drone services are our three main disciplines and specialist skills in the industry, but it’s difficult to find them offered as a package,” says Anthony.

“I’d hear managers on site complain about their difficulties finding different contractors and talk about how efficient it would be to have one company take care of all their requirements.

“That’s what gave me the idea for IMS.”

Now, he’s investing in making IMS a trusted name in the region.

With assistance from Tees Valley Business Compass, IMS has recently invested in additional advanced equipment, branding and a newly developed website which is due to launch in the coming weeks.

Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen said: “Entrepreneurs like Anthony are vital to growth in the Tees Valley and his story shows that with the right idea and some hard work, our risk-takers can succeed.

“It also shows that thanks to the levels of support we have for people wanting to set up and grow their own company, we’re a great place to call home. Business Compass is central to this offer and is helping firms, big and small, go from strength to strength.”

IMS has also employed Anthony Harker as technical manager, himself a rope access and NDT technician with a wealth of experience in managing seven-figure contracts for global oil, gas and engineering companies.

Harker said: “When Anthony explained his vision for the company to me, I couldn’t wait to get involved.”

“There aren’t many companies in the UK offering a full-service package as the one IMS has put together, and there’s real potential to become a significant player in the industry.

“I’m excited to help the company grow.”

Initial drone surveys plus the necessary follow up remedial work form part of IMS’s bespoke package, known as an ‘external health check’, to client premises and infrastructures. By utilising rope access systems and temporary exclusion zones, the company can carry out work with minimum disruption to business operations. These essential services help with regulatory, CDM and planned preventative maintenance requirements.

The company has already secured a number of commercial and public sector contracts providing their bespoke package. Also, a partnership with Tees Valley Inspection has been agreed to provide NDT and inspection using rope access and drone services for the petrochemical, oil and gas and marine sectors.

IMS is also currently adding to its fleet of high-tech drones and is in the process of gaining company ISO accreditations and IRATA membership, which Anthony believes will take the company to another level.

“We want to make sure we’re able to support clients with their specific requirements at height,” says Anthony.

“This means being proactive in helping them solve their problems, whatever those problems might be.

“Investing in the most advanced equipment and highest possible accreditations will help us do that,” he added.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by The Creative Alchemist .